§ MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can approximately state what is the amount of cash belonging to the Chartered Company of South Africa; and, whether, in view of expenses now being incurred by the Government in respect to the Matabele rising, he will consider the expediency of obtaining some security that this cash will remain available for their repayment?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI believe the Company have about half a million in cash, more or less. I do not propose to take the course suggested in the second branch of the Question. The Company are paying for the expenses of the war as they are incurred, and at present I have no reason to doubt their readiness to meet their liabilities.